Sunday Reflections
All Souls’ DayWisdom 3:1-9Psalm 25:6, 7b, 17-18, 20-21 (1) or (3a)Romans 8:14-23Luke 7:11-17November 2, 2025 Please note that for All Souls’ Day there are a number of options for readings. Therefore, you may have heard different readings at the Mass…
Read MoreOn Sunday I offered a reflection on the first reading and the gospel (29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C). In Ordinary Time, the second reading is chosen independent of the theme that is common to the first reading and the gospel second reading. This often…
Read More29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CExodus 17:8-13Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (see 2)2 Timothy 3:14-4:2Luke 18:1-8October 19, 2025 The Israelites were attacked by Amalek. The Israelites did not start the war. Their response was a defensive action and it…
Read More27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CHabakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14Luke 17:5-10October 5, 2025 The prophet Habakkuk is lamenting the way things are for the Israelites. He has good reason to lament as they are…
Read More25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CAmos 8:4-7Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8 (see 1a, 7b)1 Timothy 2:1-8Luke 16:1-13September 21, 2025 There were those “who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor.” They were more interested in selling grain than practicing…
Read More23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CWisdom 9:13-18bPsalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, and 17 (1)Philemon 9-10, 12-17Luke 14:25-33September 7, 2025 Last week I spoke about humility and pride (see my homily). If we are truly humble, we recognize God knows…
Read More20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CJeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10Psalm 40:2, 3, 4, 18 (14b)Hebrews 12:1-4Luke 12:49-53August 17, 2025 They claimed, “Jeremiah ought to be put to death.” Why do they seek his execution? They wanted to put him to death…
Read More19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CWisdom 18:6-9Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22 (12b)Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19Luke 12:32-48August 10, 2025 Jesus says to us, “Do not be afraid any longer.” What makes you afraid? How do you respond to the fear? Whatever…
Read More17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CGenesis 18:20-32Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6-7. 7-8 (3a)Colossians 2:12-14Luke 11:1-13July 27, 2025 Jesus teaches us how to pray. When we pray, what do we ask for? Jesus says, “What father among you would hand his…
Read More15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CDeuteronomy 30:10-14Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11 (9a)Colossians 1:15-20Luke 10:25-37July 13, 2025 Each Sunday we pray the Nicene Creed (at times some parishes exercise the option to use the Apostles’ Creed). We say the words…
Read MoreSaints Peter and Paul, ApostlesActs 12:1-11Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (5b)2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18Matthew 16:13-19June 29, 2025 Today begins the thirteenth week in Ordinary Time. Yet, it is not the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time that we celebrate today. Our…
Read MoreThe Most Holy TrinityProverbs 8:22-31Psalm 8:4-5, 607, 8-9 (2a)Romans 5:1-5John 16:12-15June 15, 2025 Jesus does not act alone. There is much to tell the disciples what it means to follow him but He knew they could not bear it all…
Read More7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CActs 7:55-60Psalm 97:1-2, 6-7, 9 (1a, 9a)Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20John 17:20-26June 1, 2025 Jesus knows He is about to be arrested. He knows He will be beaten, mocked, scourged, and crucified. Knowing this, He…
Read MoreFifth Sunday of Easter, Year CActs 14:21-27Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13 (see 1)Revelation 21:1-5aJohn 13:31-33a, 34-35May 18, 2025 Paul and Barnabas go out to proclaim the good news. Led by the Holy Spirit, they had “made a considerable number of disciples.” …
Read MoreThird Sunday of Easter, Year CActs of the Apostles 5:27-32, 40b-41Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 (2a)Revelation 5:11-14John 21:1-19May 4, 2025 Jesus had been crucified and laid in the tomb. Jesus did not remain in the tomb. God has power…
Read MoreJesus is the Good Guy (Good Friday 2025)Isaiah 52:13-53:12Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 (Luke 23:46)Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9John 18:1-19:42April 18, 2025 Who are you like in the story of Jesus’ Passion? Are you like Jesus who is honest and…
Read More5th Sunday of Lent, Year C – ReflectionIsaiah 43:16-21Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3)Philippians 3:8-14John 8:1-11April 6, 2025 Once again, we hear that Jesus is teaching. Teaching for him is not simply lecture. He uses the situations that come before…
Read More3rd Sunday of Lent, Year C – ReflectionExodus 3:1-8a,13-15Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 607, 8, 11 (8a)1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12Luke 13:1-9March 23, 2025 Last week we heard the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration. In my homily, I spoke of ways in which we…
Read More1st Sunday of Lent, Year C – ReflectionDeuteronomy 26:4-10Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15 (see 15b)Romans 10:8-13Luke 4:1-13March 9, 2025 When famine came, Jacob moved his family to Egypt where Joseph had built up large stores of grain. There, his family…
Read More7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C – Reflection1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13 (8a)1 Corinthians 15:45-49Luke 6:27-38February 23, 2025 Saul was envious of David. Saul was king but David received more praise. In his…
Read MoreIsaiah’s service as our Lord’s prophet started with an encounter with the Lord (as told in today’s first reading). He “saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne.” How would encountering the Lord in this way affect you?…
Read More“Today is holy to the LORD your God” (3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, first reading). What made that day holy? That day something happened that hadn’t happened in a long time. “Ezra the priest brought the law before…
Read MoreToday we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We tend to think of the Holy Family as having the perfect life. Mary conceived without sin by the Holy Spirit and Jesus was the Son…
Read MoreIf we hear a message from a prophet of the Lord, we look for a message of hope. However, the messages received from prophets don’t always seem hopeful. They foretell of defeat. I’ve spoken of this recently when our first…
Read MoreDaniel is giving a vision of the end times. Jesus speaks of what “those days after the tribulation” will be like (readings for 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B). Daniel writes of “a time unsurpassed in distress.” Jesus speaks…
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